Donegal delivers and delights! - Inside: Existentialism and Logotherapy - The Growth Mindset Problems - IGC Resources Survey Results
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Volume 48 Number 3 May 2019
A Publication of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors
Donegal delivers and delights!
Inside:
- Existentialism and Logotherapy
- The Growth Mindset Problems
- IGC Resources Survey Results
TOP 10
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
LYIT
Cover photo: Paul Hannigan LYIT President, Catherine Breene, Chairperson of Adult Guidance Ireland, Beatrice Dooley, President IGC, Joe
REASONS TO
McHugh (Minister for Education and Skills) Nikki Bradley, Eithne Sproule Chairperson of Organising Committee, Petra Elftrorp, IGC Researcher
CHOOSE In this issue:
Momo challenge shows how even experts are falling for
digital hoaxes........................................................................................... 5
Class Reunion of UCD 1982................................................................... 21
Language Skills & Careers - What the top Irish CEOs say.................... 22
The Conference in Donegal..................................................................... 6
51 Entry Level Programmes The growth mindset problem................................................................. 11
Forget university rankings, open days are the biggest factor
DCU welcomes scholarship applicants for the newly
accredited Master of Education in Autism............................................ 22
Analyse this: What Freud can teach us about Trumpism...................... 23
in student choice................................................................................... 14
4,500+
Viewing Depression As Tool for Survival............................................... 27
Digital nomads: What it’s really like to work while travelling
Students Existentialism, Existential Counselling and Logotherapy...................... 28
the world................................................................................................ 15
Spotted at conference .......................................................................... 18
50 International Partner
Institutions
Copy Deadline
The deadline for the next issue of Guideline Magazine is
Contributions of articles can be sent to:
Fred Tuite,
28
14th September 2019 1 Loreto Park
Masters & Postgraduate
Articles (which may be edited) and advertisements should be Troys Lane
programmes Kilkenny
with the editor before that date.
Tel: 087-6698873
Guideline is published three times a year (October, February and Email: guideline@eircom.net
15
CPD part-time &
May) by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. Contributions
postgraduate programmes
and advertisements are welcome. The Editors reserve the right
for Teachers & Educators to amend or abridge any contribution accepted for publication. For advertising contact our Advertising
Items for inclusion should preferably be sent in MS Word by Manager:
students rate their entire
5/6
email to the address below. Typeset articles or advertisements
education as good or Carmel Dooley,
are best sent in high resolution Adobe Acrobat format.
PRWORKS,
excellent (ISSE, 2018)
The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the 14 Ceannt Ave, Mervue, Galway
contributors and not necessarily those of the Editors or the Mobile: 087 2349903
57%
Officers of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. Email: carmel@prworks.ie
of courses have work placement opportunities Web site: www.prworks.ie
Acceptance of advertisements does not constitute an
endorsement of the products or services by the Institute.
82%
Every effort has been made by the editors to ensure that the ie.linkedin.com/in/prgalway
of students at LYIT have either returned to further study information is accurate, however no responsibility can be
or gained employment within 4 months of graduation accepted by the Editors or the Institute for omissions or errors
that may have occurred. www.facebook.com/prgalway
40+
Editorial Board
Clubs & Societies on campus Fred Tuite, Gerry Reilly, Betty McLaughlin, Patricia Wroe and
Michael L. O’Rourke
2018 only College Campus Town where rent prices fell (Daft.ie, 2018) Institute of Guidance Counsellors,
Head Office,
17 Herbert St.,
Dublin 2
For further information
#chooselyit
Tel: (01) 676 1975
check www.lyit.ie or Fax: (01) 661 2551
email admissions@lyit.ie Email: office@igc.ie 3
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY OFFERS STUDENTS PERSONAL
Momo challenge
& PROFESSIONAL shows how
DEVELOPMENT even experts
OPPORTUNITIES
are falling for digital hoaxes
The MU Office of Experiential Learning,
established in 2016 as part of the University’s
undergraduate curricular reforms, assists students
Fred Tuite son heard rumours about it at school and watched videos about
in connecting classroom content with real-world it online.
experiences. Examples include: professional It wasn’t just the media and parents that were sucked in,
development, undergraduate research, service however. Children’s charities have criticised schools for warning
parents about the challenge, and an MP raised the issue in
learning and community engagement.
parliament after being contacted by worried parents. Even the
police were not immune from getting swept up in the panic,
with several forces issuing dire warnings about Momo.
The irony is that there never was any proof of Momo. But now,
partly as a result of the media attention, Momo has shifted from
its supposed existence in threatening WhatsApp messages into a
widely visible meme across YouTube and other online sources. And
enough detail is available to equip those so inclined to use Momo
The world loves a good scare and it certainly helps to sell as a method of cyberbullying.
newspapers and grow ratings on television. We have seen scares
on Ebola, radiation, nitrates, meat and vaccines. The online world They continue, remarking that even as the media coverage shifted
of course is ripe for scares, scams and for spreading hoaxes. We to articles condemning the Momo challenge as fake news and
have all got these earnest emails and messages from friends not criticising the surrounding frenzy, reports still tended to include
to accept someone as a Facebook friend asPAT it will introduce a
O’MEARA the image of the bulging-eyed female, perpetuating the clickbait
virus on to your computer. Most of these areBAfalse andHDIP
1980, just ED 1981 cycle. This “visual extra” intensifies public awareness and ensures
seek
to propagate themselves. After all, the next best thing to creating that the story registers in the collective imagination. In terms of
a virus, for those who do that sort of thing, is to create a virus the potential for harm, it has almost become irrelevant whether
SPRING & SUMMER OPEN DAYS scare. Generally do not send them if they ask you to pass this on Momo was originally genuine or a hoax.
to everyone in your contacts. Do a Google search for some of the
APRIL 6TH AND JUNE 22ND 2019 2018
terms or a MARKED
DEGREE,
anyone.
quote from theTHE
A there
Recently, RESULT
FIRST
text before
was aOF
youGRADUATION
forward the warning
UNDERGRADUATE
media
FORon toSTUDENTS
hullabaloo about Momo,CURRICULUM
this
The was aUNDER
Whale that
REFORMS
THEa few
similar frenzy
Game supposed
NEW
had
BACHELOR
years
led
ago about the OF
to a huge
MU IMPLEMENTED IN 2015.number
ARTSBlue
so called
of suicides,
creepy Japanese puppet that supposedly was tempting children to again without any evidence.
Widely seen to be the single most One such alumnus was Pat O’Meara, MU students can now experience more from
harm themselves and even commit suicide. But ultimately, digital hoaxes have as much, if not more, chance of
important development in undergraduate Principal Consultant, Woods & Associates. their degree programme by developing and
Aseducation
Lisa Sugiura andinAnne
in Ireland recentKirby write
decades, thein www.theconversation. causing emotional harm to parents
cultivating or carerslearning
high-impact who may not have the
experiences,
programme
com, increases thereporting
the sensationalist emphasis risked
on the whipping“Noupone same
ever learned to ride
a frenzied appreciation of internet culture as their children
both inside and outside the classroom, do.where
As the
fundamental
panic, and it skills
soonofbecame
critical thinking
apparentand there
clear was a little or to swimauthor
bike evidence Don Tapscott argues
by reading studentsinlearn
his book Grown
by doing. up experiences
These Digital, the so-
communication. Unique subject combinations
the game was real, with one children’s organisation sayingorit had called “net generation”areare often
delivered good
in at scrutinising
collaboration with information
academic
and the provision of experiential learning
a book attendingthey aencounter online,educators,
exposing hoaxes
employers, quickly,
alumni and
and making
communityshort
received more enquiries from the press than from parents.
have resonated with students and with lecture about it. This workis of why
false pretences.
partners They connect classroom content
The Momo
alumni, challenge
who, followingwas simplyfrom
an appeal the the
latest digitalthe
hoax.
MU It was an
Learning-by-Doing with real-world experience, empowering
urban legend able
Development and to develop
Alumni and gain
Relations Office,momentum because of the Of course this appliesMU more to older children and teenagers. But
students to grow and develop with the
Programme of Experiential the pressure and desire to protect children from the horrors of
sharing
returnedof to
videos,
campus articles and warnings
to conduct simulated online. relevant knowledge, skills and competencies
interviews with MU students as part of their Learning matters so much.”the internet could inadvertently cause parents to engage with, or
that they need for lifelong learning success.
The intentionlearning
experiential of most people issuing these warnings is usually
experience.
expose their children to, distressing content they would not have
well-meaning. But the failure of people to identify the hoax, even otherwise.
by those who should have expert insight into whether children
really Experiential
are in danger,learning
helps toprofessional
create a problem where none Digital hoaxes highlight the need for everyone to think more
development andreally
employability
existed. And it’sare
modules likely to be worried
available parents
to eligible that year
second are harmed
students.as aThe keycritically
purpose
about online information. Often the hype can distract us
result of
rather
these than their more
modules is todigital savvy
facilitate children.in their academic, personal and online issues affecting children and young people and
students
from the real
the need for greater advice and support for suicide prevention in
professional career development, so that they will be well equipped to
The writers say that reports of suicides linked to the Momo general. WWW.MAYNOOTHUNIVERSITY.
secure internships and to successfully enter the graduate labour market.
challenge have appeared around the world since July 2018, but IE/EXPERIENTIAL-LEARNING
The modules, involving a number of employers, will provide students
without solid evidence that any of the deaths recorded were On a final withthought, surely we should be teaching our children to
the opportunity to develop a strong sense of self-awareness, as
actually caused by the game. Attention on the story has grown, usewelltheir
as discretion in challenge and dare games whether in real
enabling them to identify and develop a range of employabilitylife or online,
skills, whichas this hoax seems to be an electronic version of the
and recently took off in the British press after a mother posted
will be fundamental to their future career.
a warning about it on her local Facebook group. She’d not seen children’s game of “Simon says...”
Download our Maynooth Find it under
University App for the any actual evidence of the game but had researched it after her
latest Open Day details www.gomaynooth.ie
4 maynoothuni gomaynooth 5
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
The Conference in Donegal
Fred Tuite
(working with the school populations); Building Relationships and exploration of the online world and the way we keep
between the individual, the economy and society; Enhancing being pushed into this realm. It concluded with an exercise
the experience of Education (not just for points but for where we stuck sticky notes on a volunteer for all the online
industry); Wellbeing and Addressing Disadvantage. We accounts and presence they had and when you see it visually
listened closely for news of reversing the cuts or increasing like that you realise just how much of your life is online and
allocation or ring fencing the allocation but none came. how much information you share and leave behind you there.
“Donegal is different” goes the advertising slogan and so it about guiding individuals to solely contribute to the economy So be careful out there!
proved. I must admit I did wonder why I was travelling so and remain constantly employable to fit in with the neo-liberal If the Minister had any doubts about the role of Guidance
far for a conference as I drove the four hours to get there. agenda, or whether it is to support the development of more Counsellors before, he had none after the next speaker, Nikki Coming out of the workshop we collected our cert in an
Especially slow was getting through Omagh and then the fully rounded human beings. Bradley. She spoke passionately about Guidance Counsellors almost deserted building. The stands were gone and so were
twisty windy roads to Lifford, but at least the border was and how we had the capacity to change people’s lives. Her most of the attendees. I took a stroll around Letterkenny in
Onwards then for a lovely buffet supper and more mixing own story was truly inspirational. She was diagnosed as a the sunshine to get a sense of the place before preparing for
invisible and the only way you could tell was by the colour of
and mingling before being bussed back the short distance to teenager with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that the evening events.
the road signs and the speed limits changing from kilometres
the hotel. There was time to share a drink and catch up with grows in the soft tissue around the bones. This led to a series
to miles. Finally Letterkenny hove into view and I found my Dressed to impress, we went to the drinks reception and were
friends and colleagues before heading for bed to sleep after of treatments and operations, one more horrific than the
hotel. If I left immediately I could make registration and the reunited with some old friends and long lost acquaintances
the long journey. other which she endured with remarkable forbearance. Now
evening session, but how far was LYIT from the hotel? Along before a wonderful dinner and superb wine served by the
with a fellow Guidance Counsellor I asked some local ladies There was no time to linger over breakfast as we had to she has one leg 11 mm shorter than the other and walks
Mount Errigal Hotel. The band was called Sensations (like
who were leaving the hotel. It was not far, just around the re-register next day and get to the first workshop by 9.00 in pain with crutches. This has not stopped her creating a
the crisps they said) and if you haven’t heard of them you
corner but as it was raining they offered us a lift there. They am. Mine was on Motivational Interviewing –Listening Clients fitness based awareness campaign “Fighting Fit for Ewing’s”
probably heard them that night, even if you were not at
were not attending, but were happy to show off the town and Into Change presented by the dynamic Glenn Hinds and it and participating in physical challenges such as 10k runs
the conference. It was worth the temporary tinnitus for they
help out some visitors. Because of traffic they could not take focused us on the listening skills by taking us right back to using crutches, climbing the Soleimajokull glacier in Iceland,
played a great mix of music and the Guidance Counsellors
the most direct route but kept us entertained with stories and Rogers and his unconditional positive regard but in a most and gruelling 24 km treks in the Brecon Beacons in Wales
and guests took to the floor with gusto and danced into the
tales of Donegal as we sat in the back holding the trellis they entertaining and insightful way. We would like to have had and becoming the first person to climb 4 Irish mountains on
early hours.
bought in Aldi. We thanked our helpers who wished us a more of him and felt ourselves re-energised and re-focused crutches in less than 32 hours. Her challenges continue as
successful weekend in Donegal and hoped we would come which is exactly what we go to these Conferences for. she may have to have her right leg amputated in the future. The following day saw the revival of an old conference
back. She is thankful for the advice given to her by a Guidance tradition: playing golf. This being Donegal, it had to be done.
Then it was time for tea and coffee and to take stock of Counsellor which helped her get a college place despite The chosen course was Balybofey, one of the lesser known
Somewhat enchanted we went into the Institute and were the numbers who had made the long journey along with missing out on her Leaving Certificate and steering her to her gems of golf in the county. Six stalwarts took to the tees
greeted by a phalanx of helpful students who directed us committing a second Saturday to the IGC in an academic current mission. She spoke of enjoying moments of joy in the and played in the wonderful sunshine. “It is always sunny
to registration and tea and coffee. This was taken at the year. From those I spoke to about 280 were attending (this face of chaos and coping with the obstacles she encounters in Donegal” we were assured. Not all the golf matched the
Research Exhibition and hopefully we will soon be able to is a ball park figure) and certainly those on the stands were by asking, “What is the worst that can happen? If it is not beautiful weather but as Joe Duddy (remember him) who
bring some of this research to you over the next few issues. very pleased with the numbers and also the interest and death then we can handle it!” She received a spontaneous used to organise these events at one time, said: “It is good
Meeting familiar friends and faces made me realise why I had commitment of those who were attending. standing ovation and there were many watery eyes among day when you can get up and play bad golf!” We had to
made this long journey. Having had some lovely canapés the gathered counsellors. It certainly put the difficulties of a balance the playing in the lovely sunshine with the prospect
After a tour of the stands it was time for the plenary session.
we moved on to the evening session: The Great Guidance long drive on a wet evening into perspective. of the long trip back but we managed the 18 holes before
Firstly, Eithne Sproule Chair of the Conference Organising
Debate, with a variety of speakers addressing the issue of hopping into the car for the four and a half hours to get home.
Committee welcomed us and shared some anecdotes about A pleasant lunch followed and another trip to the stands
whether schools were preparing people for modern life. It
Minister Joe McHugh. Beatrice Dooley, our president gave before the afternoon workshop which in my case was on It was a great conference, well organised, well run, unfussed
was hosted by Emma O’Kelly of RTE. As you can imagine
a very impressive speech stressing the value of our work. Digital Citizenship, Footprints and Tattoos. Given by Dr Nigel and friendly and for this writer at least it gave him the longing
the debate circled around new work and work practices and
That message was supplemented by Petra Elftorp from her Mc Kelvey of LYIT it looked at the 9Ps of Digital Citizenship. to go back to Donegal and take a bigger look at that beautiful
the fact that many of the jobs available to our school leavers
recent research. Then Minister for Education and Skills, Joe Those are: Passwords, Private information, Personal county and its lovely people. Well done to all involved.
have not been invented yet. The most memorable contribution
McHugh spoke. He saw Guidance Counsellors as being at Information, Photographs, Property, Permission, Protection,
came from the audience when Dr. Lucy Hearne of University
the heart of the 5 themes for Education that his government Professionalism and Personal Brand. It was a fascinating tour
of Limerick questioned whether our role now appears to be
were driving: Getting a Strategic Direction for Education
6 7
Results from Members Background: All IGC members were invited to respond to
an online questionnaire between the 13th December
Questionnaire on Resources 2018 and the 14th January 2019. The total response
rate was n379, which represents 27.2% of the total IGC
Client Management System
of the Institute of Guidance membership (n1393) as it stood in December 2018. Do 2nd level practitioners want to use a CMS? (CMS)
Counsellors
50% 38% 12%
Main concerns*
in relation to the potential development of a
CMS for second level guidance counselling
Who responded to the Yes Not Sure No
questionnaire? Data Protection & Client-Practitioner
Relationship
Guidance counsellors with experience of CMS*
“excellent way of capturing data and supporting
the breadth of work covered by service” Time and Workload
78% 14% 8%
27%
“essential in accounting for, reflecting on and
reporting on all the elements of work” Misuse by management
Second level FET ‘Other’
of all IGC members (incl. PLC, AEGS, (e.g. LES, HE, “you need to develop data entry skills and be
responded to the survey YouthReach, FET Retired, Private
programme) practice)
prepared to devote considerable time to
inputting and updating”
Flexibility and Suitability
Do you attend branch meetings?
48% Yes, regularly Do you read Guideline?
29% Yes, 1-3 /year
IGC Branch Meetings 23% No Guideline 88% 9% 3%
Why not?*
What members want to read in Yes Rarely No
~ Time of meeting not suitable (Read or Flick through)
Guideline*
~ Not relevant to me/my work
Preferred Format of Guideline
~ Geographical distance Resources, Best Wellbeing and Policy, theory
practice, peers Personal and research
~ Not released by management sharing their guidance developments
67% 31% 2%
88% want resources for experiences counselling
students/learners/clients
Hard Copy
IGC Website
Digital Neither
78% want calendar of CPD events Vocational & Sector specific CPD events
for each branch Educational content, e.g. taking place
Interest in submitting content
59% want list of news, publications guidance and
information
relevant content
for adult guidance
in all IGC
branches
and events
Website functions most 12% 11% 30% 47%
Additional suggestions* sought after by members The work of the Encourage Larger text
Links to referral services IGC wider and less Yes Yes, but I Yes, but I don’t No
Online discussion forum representatives contributions dense printing don’t know have time
Links to/Listing of policy and research how
*This symbol indicates that the results are based on the www.igc.ie *This symbol indicates that the results are based on the www.igc.ie
analysis of answers to an open-ended question, where the office@igc.ie analysis of answers to an open-ended question, where the office@igc.ie
listed suggestions were the most frequently provided. 01-6761975 listed suggestions were the most frequently provided. 01-6761975
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
IGC Diary
How can the Diary be THE GROWTH MINDSET
improved?*
PROBLEM
Smaller size
Do members use their IGC Diary? Carl Hendrick
Separate the information section from the Diary
One page per day and times marked on page 70% 26% 4%
Over the past century, a powerful idea has taken root in the research project with schoolchildren that probed the relationship
(to allow scheduling of appointments) educational landscape. The notion of intelligence as something between their understanding of their own abilities and their actual
innate and fixed has been supplanted by the idea that intelligence performance.
Class lists and attendance sheets (Second level) Yes No N/A as I don’t is instead something malleable; that we are not prisoners of
In the experiment, a group of 10- to 12-year-olds were divided
Calendar year and FET info (Adult guidance) receive it immutable characteristics and that, with the right training, we can
into two groups. All were told that they had achieved a high score
be the authors of our own cognitive capabilities.
on a test but members of the first group were praised for their
More space for notes Should the current format of the Diary be kept? Nineteenth-century scientists including Francis Galton and Alfred intelligence in achieving this, while the others were praised for
Binet devoted their own considerable intelligence to a quest to their effort. The second group were subsequently far more likely
classify and understand human cognitive ability. If we could to put effort into future tasks while the former took on only those
Is it redundant if a digital CMS is introduced? codify the anatomy of intelligence, they believed, we could place tasks that would not risk their initial sense of worth. Praising ability
individuals into their correct niche in society. Binet would go on actually made the students perform worse, while praising effort
56.5% 26.5% 17% to develop the first IQ tests, laying the foundations for a method emphasised that change was possible.
of ranking the intelligence of job applicants, army recruits or
Dweck’s work suggests that when people believe that failure is
schoolchildren that continues today.
not a barometer of innate characteristics but rather view it as a
Yes No Don’t know / In the early 20th century, progressive thinkers revolted against step to success (a growth mindset), they are far more likely to put
Neutral
IGC Conference
this idea that inherent ability is destiny. Instead, educators such in the kinds of effort that will eventually lead to that success. By
as John Dewey argued that every child’s intelligence could be contrast, those who believe that success or failure is due to innate
developed, given the right environment. The self, according to ability (a fixed mindset) can find that this leads to a fear of failure
& AGM Dewey, is not something ‘ready-made’ but rather ‘in continuous
formation through choice of action’. In the 1960s and ’70s,
psychologists such as Albert Bandura bridged some of the gap
and a lack of effort.
Imagine two children who are faced with taking a test on a tricky
maths problem. The first child completes the first few steps but
Conference Suggestions for how the between the innate and the learned models of intelligence with
his idea of social cognitive theory, self-efficacy and motivation.
then hits a wall, and instantly feels demotivated. For this child, the
and AGM as Conference can be improved* One can recognise that there are individual differences in ability,
small failure is incontrovertible evidence of simply not being good
at maths. By contrast, for the second child, this small failure is
separate 31% Conference and
Bandura argued, but still emphasise the potential for growth for
each individual, wherever one’s starting point.
merely a barrier to eventual success, and confers an opportunity
events AGM at the
to improve overall maths ability. The second child relishes the
More workshops – Fewer Speeches Growth mindset theory is a relatively new – and wildly popular – challenge, and works to improve – that child is displaying a growth
69% same venue and iteration of this belief in the malleability of intelligence, but with mindset. According to the theory, the key to encouraging this
a twist. In many schools today you will see hallways festooned disposition is to praise the effort and not the ability. By telling
weekend with motivational posters, and hear speeches on the mindset of children that they are smart or intelligent, you are merely confirming
Broader range of workshop topics great sporting heroes who simply believed their way to the top. the idea of innate ability, fostering a fixed mindset, and actually
These are all attempts to put growth mindset theory into practice undermining their development. Dweck’s claims are supported by
through motivation. However a growth mindset is not really a lot of evidence, indeed she and her associates have spent more
How can the AGM be More interactive workshops about motivation, but rather about the way in which individuals than 30 years exploring this phenomenon, including taking the
improved?* understand their own intelligence. time to respond to criticism in an open and transparent way.
According to the theory, if students believe that their ability is Growth mindset theory has had a profound impact on the ground.
Location: central, provincial OR: fixed, they will not want to do anything to reveal that, so a major It is difficult to think of a school today that is not in thrall to the idea
Chaired by external/independent professional Organised centrally but held locally focus of the growth mindset in schools is shifting students away that beliefs about one’s ability affect subsequent performance, and
from seeing failure as an indication of their ability, to seeing failure that it’s crucial to teach students that failure is merely a stepping
as a chance to improve that ability. As Jeff Howard noted almost stone to success. Implementing these ideas has been much
Stick to agreed times / limit discussion time Timing: Weekday, single day event 30 years ago: ‘Smart is not something that you just are, smart is harder, however, and attempts to replicate the original findings
something that you can get.’ have not been smooth, to say the least. A recent national survey in
the United States showed that 98 per cent of teachers feel that
More transparency in terms of expenditure No banquet – or a more informal Despite extraordinary claims for the efficacy of a growth mindset,
growth mindset approaches should be adopted in schools, but
however, it’s increasingly unclear whether attempts to change
alternative students’ mindsets about their abilities have any positive effect
only 50 per cent said that they knew of strategies to effectively
Attendance should be encouraged and/or change a pupil’s mindset.
on their learning at all. And the story of the growth mindset is a
incentivised cautionary tale about what happens when psychological theories The truth is we simply haven’t been able to translate the research
Lower cost are translated into the reality of the classroom, no matter how well- on the benefits of a growth mindset into any sort of effective,
Information about the AGMs must be intentioned. consistent practice that makes an appreciable difference in
improved, particularly for new members student academic attainment. In many cases, growth mindset
The idea of the growth mindset is based on the work of the
theory has been misrepresented and miscast as simply a means
psychologist Carol Dweck at Stanford University in California.
of motivating the unmotivated through pithy slogans and posters.
*This symbol indicates that the results are based on the www.igc.ie Dweck’s findings suggest that beliefs about ourselves can have
A general truth about education is that the more vague and
analysis of answers to an open-ended question, where the office@igc.ie a profound effect on academic achievement and beyond. Her
platitudinous the statement, the less practical use it has on the
listed suggestions were the most frequently provided. 01-6761975 seminal work stems from a paper 20 years ago that reported on a
ground. ‘Making a difference’ rarely makes any difference at all.
11
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
A growing number of recent studies are casting doubt on the firm foundation, but we’re still building the house’. In fact, she help, teacher training or an extended workshop could undo the In a very real sense, teachers have been given answers to
efficacy of mindset interventions at scale. A large-scale study of argues that her work has been misunderstood and misapplied effects of the intervention, not increase its benefits.’ Pedagogy is questions they didn’t ask, and solutions to problems that never
36 schools in the UK, in which either pupils or teachers were in a range of ways. She has also expressed concerns that her not medicine, after all, and students do not want to be treated as existed. It is not surprising that they feel subject to fads and
given training, found that the impact on pupils directly receiving theories are being misappropriated in schools by being conflated patients to be cured. theories about students that do not hold up to scrutiny. For
the intervention did not have statistical significance, and that with the self-esteem movement: ‘The thing that keeps me up at example, the problem of how to plan lesson content to match the
How students learn well can be very counterintuitive. You might
the pupils whose teachers were trained made no gains at all. night is that some educators are turning mindset into the new self- individual ‘learning style’ of students has now been proven to have
think it is safe to assume that, once you motivate students, the
Another study featuring a large sample of university applicants esteem, which is to make kids feel good about any effort they put been a waste of time, and a sad indictment of how much time and
learning will follow. Yet research shows that this is often not
in the Czech Republic used a scholastic aptitude test to explore in, whether they learn or not. But for me the growth mindset is a energy has been expended on theoretical interventions with little
the case: motivation doesn’t always lead to achievement, but
the relationship between mindset and achievement. They found tool for learning and improvement. It’s not just a vehicle for making to no evidence to support them.
achievement often leads to motivation. If you try to ‘motivate’
a slightly negative correlation, with researchers claiming that children feel good.’
students into public speaking, they might feel motivated but Recent evidence would suggest that growth mindset interventions
‘the results show that the strength of the association between
For Dweck, it’s not just about more effort, but rather purposeful can lack the specific knowledge needed to translate that into are not the elixir of student learning that many of its proponents
academic achievement and mindset might be weaker than
and meaningful effort. And it’s not just in the classroom where she action. However, through careful instruction and encouragement, claim it to be. The growth mindset appears to be a viable
previously thought’. A 2012 review for the Joseph Rowntree
feels that the growth mindset is being misunderstood, it seems to students can learn how to craft an argument, shape their ideas construct in the lab, which, when administered in the classroom
Foundation in the UK of attitudes to education and participation
be happening in the home too: ‘We’re finding that many parents and develop them into solid form. via targeted interventions, doesn’t seem to work at scale. It is
found ‘no clear evidence of association or sequence between
endorse a growth mindset, but they still respond to their children’s hard to dispute that having a self-belief in their own capacity for
pupils’ attitudes in general and educational outcomes, although
errors, setbacks or failures as though they’re damaging and change is a positive attribute for students. Paradoxically, however,
there were several studies attempting to provide explanations for
harmful,’ she said in an interview in 2015. ‘If they show anxiety or The idea that videos of failed sportsmen can that aspiration is not well served by direct interventions that try
the link (if it exists)’. In 2018, two meta-analyses in the US found
overconcern, those kids are going toward a more fixed mindset.’ to instil it. Yet creating a culture in which students can believe
that claims for the growth mindset might have been overstated, translate into a growth disposition is unrealistic
in the possibility of improving their intelligence through their own
and that there was ‘little to no effect of mindset interventions on Dweck might be right that the theory is not always well understood
A lot of what drives students is their innate beliefs and how they purposeful effort is something few would disagree with. Perhaps
academic achievement for typical students’. or put into practice. There is always the danger of disappointment
perceive themselves. There is a strong correlation between self- growth mindset works best as a philosophy and not an intervention.
in the translation from educational laboratory to classroom, and
perception and achievement, but there is some evidence to
‘Kids with the growth this is partly due to the Chinese whispers effect, whereby research
becomes diluted and distorted as it goes through its journey.
suggest that the actual effect of achievement on self-perception is
stronger than the other way round. To stand up in a classroom and
But there is another factor at work here. The failure to translate
mindset aren’t getting the growth mindset into the classroom might reflect a profound
misunderstanding of the elusive nature of teaching and learning
successfully deliver a good speech is a genuine achievement,
and that is likely to be more powerfully motivating than woolly
better grades’
notions of ‘motivation’ itself.
itself.
One reason for this might be the over-generalised picture of the
Effective teaching, at its best, defies prescription. The same
One of the greatest impediments to successfully implementing a growth mindset: it tends to be talked about as a global or general
resources and the same approaches that are successful in
growth mindset is the education system itself. A key characteristic skill as opposed to a domain-specific one. Many interventions
one classroom can be completely ineffective in another. In
of a fixed mindset is a focus on performance and an avoidance focus on kids having a kind of global attitude to their own
his book Personal Knowledge (1958), Michael Polanyi defined
of any situation where testing might lead to a confirmation of intelligence that can then be transferred to any learning situation
‘tacit knowledge’ as anything we know how to do but cannot
fixed beliefs about ability. Yet we are currently in a school climate but this is rarely the case. For example, some students can have a
explicitly explain how we do it, such as the complex set of skills
obsessed with performance in the form of constant summative positive mindset in maths but a negative mindset in history due to
needed to ride a bike or the instinctive ability to stay afloat in
testing, analysing and ranking of students. Schools create a a highly variable range of factors. The idea that a workshop on the
water. It is the ephemeral, elusive form of knowledge that resists
certain cognitive dissonance when they proselytise the benefits plasticity of the brain and some videos of famous sportsmen who
classification or codification, and that can be gleaned only through
of a growth mindset in assemblies but then hand out fixed target have failed in the past can translate into a domain-general growth
immersion in the experience itself. In most cases, it’s not even
grades in lessons based on performance. disposition is simply unrealistic.
something that can be expressed through language. As Polanyi
Aside from the implementation problem, the original growth put it so beautifully in his book The Tacit Dimension (1966), ‘we Students are most engaged when they are being supported
mindset research has also received harsh criticism and been can know more than we can tell’. As a contrarian colleague once through specific tasks to stretch their understanding beyond its
difficult to replicate robustly. The statistician Andrew Gelman said to me about his frustration with the increasing codification of current base, but ‘engagement’ doesn’t necessarily mean they’re
All of this indicates that using time and resources to improve
at Columbia University in New York claims that ‘their research the classroom: ‘Perhaps we should be brave enough to allow it to learning anything. As the New Zealand education researcher
students’ academic achievement directly might well be a better
designs have enough degrees of freedom that they could take remain a mystery.’ Graham Nuthall showed in The Hidden Life of Learners (2007),
agent of psychological change than psychological interventions
their data to support just about any theory at all’. Timothy Bates, ‘students can be busiest and most involved with material they
themselves. In their book Effective Teaching (2011), the UK
a professor of psychology at the University of Edinburgh who has already know. In most of the classrooms we have studied, each
education scholars Daniel Muijs and David Reynolds note: ‘At the
been trying to replicate Dweck’s work in a third study in China, student already knows about 40-50 per cent of what the teacher
end of the day, the research reviewed has shown that the effect
is finding that the results are repeatedly null. He notes in a 2017 is teaching.’ Nuthall’s work demonstrates that students are far
of achievement on self-concept is stronger that the effect of self-
interview that: ‘People with a growth mindset don’t cope any better more likely to get stuck into tasks they’re comfortable with and
concept on achievement.’
with failure. If we give them the mindset intervention, it doesn’t already know how to do, as opposed to the more uncomfortable
make them behave better. Kids with the growth mindset aren’t enterprise of grappling with uncertainty and indeterminate tasks. Many interventions in education have the causal arrow pointed
getting better grades, either before or after our intervention study.’ The psychologists Elizabeth Ligon Bjork and Robert Bjork at the the wrong way round. Motivational posters and talks are often a
University of California, Los Angeles, describe such activities as waste of time, and might well give students a deluded notion of
An enduring criticism of growth mindset theory is that it ‘desirable difficulties’, which refers to the kinds of things that are what success actually means. Teaching students concrete skills
underestimates the importance of innate ability, specifically difficult in the short term, but that lead to greater gains in the long such as how to write an effective introduction to an essay through
intelligence. If one student is playing with a weaker hand, is it fair term. These point to a range of strategies that are more prosaic close instruction, specific feedback, worked examples and careful
to tell the student that she is just not making enough effort? Growth and less attractive than growth mindset interventions – familiar scaffolding, and then praising their effort in getting there, is
mindset – like its educational-psychology cousin ‘grit’ – can have strategies such as testing, self-quizzing and spacing out learning. probably a far more effective way of improving confidence than
the unintended consequence of making students feel responsible giving an assembly about how unique they are, or indeed how
for things that are not under their control: that their lack of success Clearly, something has gone wrong somewhere along the way
capable they are of changing their own brains. The best way to
is a failure of moral character. This goes well beyond questions Good teachers are like good actors, not in the sense that they between the laboratory and the classroom. The US education
achieve a growth mindset might just be not to mention the growth
of innate ability to the effects of marginalisation, poverty and are both artists, but in the sense that the best teachers teach scholars Marilyn Cochran-Smith and Susan Lytle outline a
mindset at all.
other socioeconomic disadvantage. For the US psychiatrist Scott you without you realising that you’ve been taught. If students fundamental problem with the education system. Teachers, they
Alexander, if a fixed mindset accounts for underachievement, then get a whiff of being part of an ‘intervention’, then it is likely that say in their book Inside/Outside (1992), are subject to top-down
‘poor kids seem to be putting in a heck of a lot less effort in a the very awareness of this will have a detrimental effect. The models of school improvement, and are often passive objects of
Carl Hendrick is the co-author of What Does This Look Like
surprisingly linear way’. He sees growth mindset as a ‘noble lie’, growth mindset advocates David Yeager and Gregory Walton study in the educational research that underpins those models:
in the Classroom? Bridging the Gap Between Research and
and notes that saying to kids that a growth mindset accounts at Stanford claim that these interventions should not be seen as
The primary knowledge source for the improvement of practice Practice (2017). He is currently writing a book with Paul Kirschner
for success is not exactly denying reality so much as ‘selectively ‘magic’ and should be delivered in a ‘stealthy’ way to maximise their
is research on classroom phenomena that can be observed. This on foundational works in education research. He lives in Berkshire,
emphasising certain parts of’ it. effectiveness – miles away from the standard use of motivational
research has a perspective that is ‘outside-in’; in other words, where he teaches at Wellington College. Frp, www.aeon.com
stories, posters and explanations of brain plasticity. As they put
Much of this criticism is not lost on Dweck, and she deserves great it has been conducted almost exclusively by university-based
it in 2011: ‘if adolescents perceive a teacher’s reinforcement of a
credit for responding to it and adapting her work accordingly. researchers who are outside of the day-to-day practices of
psychological idea as conveying that they are seen as in need of
In a recent blog, she noted that growth mindset theory ‘is on a schooling.
12 13
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
Forget university Digital nomads: What it’s really like
rankings, open days to work while travelling the world
are the biggest factor David Cook
in student choice people with wages they can live on. Faced with these challenges, it’s hardly
surprising that those new to the world of work are already desperate to escape.
CEO of Me Inc.
Yet there are certain complexities that come with living as a citizen of the
Emma Winter, Principal Lecturer, Marketing, students aren’t impressed by fancy buildings and state-of-the- world. As Lissette said, “digital nomads can quickly become isolated or
art facilities – they expect them. Reflecting on the escalating unaccountable”.
University of Portsmouth
cost of tuition fees, students need to be able to see their
According to the Times Higher University Rankings, which money is being spent on something they will benefit from. Digital nomads have to shoulder responsibility for almost every aspect of
positions more than 1,200 institutions worldwide, the modern life: their mental health, daily routine, income, safety and shelter.
Beyond the fancy buildings, when it comes to the open day Most digital nomads travel on tourist visas, which require them to up sticks
University of Oxford (which came top), the University of
experience our research shows it is the social encounters and move regularly – an experience my participants have described as
T
Cambridge (second), Imperial College London (9th) and
that provide the greatest opportunity for leaving a positive disorienting.
University College London (14th) are the only UK universities he phrase “digital nomad” summons the trope of joyful millennials who
impression in students’ minds – and enables them to rank escape the daily grind to travel the world, working with laptops on far
in the top 25. On top of all this, many digital nomads run their own businesses, and face
one institution as “better” than another. flung beaches. Bullish statistics are regularly regurgitated: “There will pressure to develop distinctive personal brands. They often can’t attend in-
Rankings have always been a popular way for universities be one billion digital nomads by 2035,” the headlines declare. person meetings or pitches, so they need an online marketing strategy that
seeking to quantify how much “better” they are than others. What students want will get them noticed and win clients.
But over recent years this has moved beyond league tables As an anthropologist, I started researching digital nomadism in 2015. It took
Most open days offer course talks by a member of staff me three years to develop an understanding of what might be going on, behind Workers are forced to think of themselves as the “CEO of Me Inc.”: this
to universities making broader claims – such as being in the
and our research showed these talks create the biggest the corporate jargon. I can’t offer hard statistics: until new systems such means having a unique brand, a marketing strategy and sales skills. They
“top 1% in the world” or “number one in the UK”.
impression for prospective students. Students are drawn as Estonia’s digital nomad visa – an easy route for people to live and work in often have to do their own graphic design, copywriting and web design as
In 2017 the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) forced six towards institutions where staff are not just knowledgeable, Estonia for a year – get off the ground, no one can. But I’ve met hundreds of well. Anthropologist Iliana Gershon has explored personal branding in Silicon
[UK] institutions to change their marketing campaigns and but enthusiastic and passionate about their course. people who think of themselves as digital nomads – and many more who have Valley, and found that many workers there need such skills just to get a job in
remove claims they couldn’t prove to be true. The ASA is dreamed about becoming one. a traditional office. So, digital nomads are taking this trend to a new extreme.
Being able to interact with staff is also a key factor in decision
now updating its advertising guidelines for UK universities,
The first thing I learned is that how people feel about the label “digital
to prevent institutions from being able to make further
making. Students are much more likely to choose institutions
where they leave feeling that staff have taken the time to build nomad” changes over time. People starting out often assume it’s a permanent Are you happy?
unsubstantiated claims. For those digital nomads who make a living as professional bloggers, it’s also
a rapport and engage with them. lifestyle – but that’s rarely the case. As one participant explained, “I went to a
conference, drank the cool aid, went to Thailand. But I don’t go around calling part of their job to sell the lifestyle. As a result, many try and project a stable
Real-life experience The impact of social encounters is not just limited to myself a digital nomad now, it’s a bit naff”. and happy image online. Lissette explained:
interactions with staff either – both students and local
When it comes to actually selecting a university to apply Indeed, there’s still debate about whether it’s a buzzword or a bone fide “There’s a danger, that when my aunt looks at Instagram, she sees that
residents are important too. Genuine encounters with existing
for, research shows that students’ perceptions are heavily phenomenon. Some have even tried to define how “authentic” a digital everything looks so happy here on the beach. Of course, my digital identity
students who speak positively about their institution are
influenced by anecdotal evidence from friends or family. nomads is, by how much they move from place to place. And online forums always looks happier than my life is.”
key. And students feel reassured to visit a town centre with
Websites and prospectuses – where most of these claims such as Reddit play host to heated debates about who’s a real digital nomad,
seemingly happy, friendly local residents. But at some point, most of my research participants have lamented the loss of
are made – also help to shape impressions and support or and who is merely “tedious and self-promoting”. some aspect of location dependence, a chat over a water cooler, regular work
refute perceptions.
A good fit Escaping the everyday hours, an office party. They miss some of the things they are escaping.
But, while initial impressions are all very well, they only help It’s hardly surprising that blogs and articles aimed at digital nomads obsess
As well as reflecting on whether they feel comfortable with the Most of the digital nomads I spoke to, who once had static jobs, told me that
students to compile a short list of universities to visit. And as over the recurring themes of productivity, resilience, positive thinking, focus
staff, our research revealed that prospective students also they were escaping from deeply rooted problems in the contemporary Western
our research shows, when it comes to choosing a university, and mindfulness. But, the flipside to all this relentless positivity is burnout. As
consider the other visitors on the day and assess whether or workplace. A common trigger is economic: one of my respondents, Zeb, was
there is no substitute for personal experience – with many one participant told me, “it’s all too easy to lose yourself in a sea of choices”.
not they feel they “fit in” with the other prospective students. working three restaurant jobs to make the rent in San Francisco. The city
students making their decision after a visit or open day.
sucked up all his time and money. This scuppered his plans to sell recycled As social entrepreneur Sam Applebee explains, burnout creeps up on people
Ultimately, when the social environment is at its best, a
So while location, nightlife and transport links, all come products online. Swapping expensive California for affordable South-East slowly, while “your self-awareness and the ability to save yourself erodes”.
university can both excite and reassure a student and
into it, one of the most important factors to students is their Asia helped Zeb to launch his own business. Many nomads I’ve interviewed just pack up and go home without telling
generate an all-important sense of belonging. And staff and
experience of the open day and the feel they get from the town anyone. Others pop home because they had too much stuff stored with friends
existing students are key players in this process. Even more common are objections to bad work cultures. Lissette, a skilled
or city. A previous study has also shown that one of the most translator from Hamburg, Germany is able to produce high quality work and family, fully intending to go back out on the road – but never do.
important factors for students when selecting an institution, is So while the ASA is busy reviewing the validity of various quickly. She soon tired of the culture of subtle bullying and presenteeism at Digital nomadism can be rewarding, and offers an escape from the drudgery
the academic appeal of a university. This is followed by the universities’ claims to be the “top university”, prospective her workplace. She explained, “I’m efficient, I like to get the work done and of office life. But it’s important that aspiring digital nomads read up and think
institution’s overall reputation – as well as its ability to boost students continue to make their choices based on their actual leave on time. Other staff were obviously scared to leave first, so would sit at deeply about the importance of community and mental health in their lives.
future career prospects. experience. So a university could well be in the top 1% of their desks on Facebook”. Freedom does not mean the same thing for everyone.
universities worldwide – but without genuine, friendly and
Fancy new buildings enthusiastic staff and students to build a sense of belonging, Activist and anthropologist David Graeber uses the phrase “bullshit jobs” to Author David Cook is a PhD Researcher in Anthropology at UCL. Article from
refer to pointless work: apt, given that nearly 40% British adults believe their The Conversation.com July 2018
At a time when many universities are embarking on ambitious it won’t make it to top place on a UCAS [or CAO] form.
jobs are meaningless. This could be expanded to include bullshit housing (poor
building developments, it might be a concern to realise that From The Conversation UK September 2018 quality and too expensive), or bullshit economies, which don’t provide young Names of participants have been changed to protect their anonymity.
14 15
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